Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations — 19 Mar 2007 at 19:25

The majority of MPs voted to approve a set of regulations^[1] that were made under the Equality Act 2006.^[2]

This Act allows the Secretary of State to make regulations defining discrimination and harassment on grounds of sexual orientation, create criminal offences, and provide for exceptions.^[2]

The Regulations define discrimination by a person A against a person B, on grounds of the sexual orientation of B or any other person except A, A treats B less favourably than he treats or would treat others (in cases where there is no material difference in the relevant circumstances).

According to the Regulations it is unlawful for a person A concerned with the provision of goods and services to the public to discriminate against a person B who seeks to obtain goods and services by refusing to provide B with goods and services of a quality which is similar to the quality of goods, facilities or services that A normally provides to the public.

The exceptions include matters concerning a person's home and family relations,^[3] insurance,^[4] blood donation,^[5] Parliament and anything to do with GCHQ.^[6]

As stipulated in the Act, the House of Lords also had to debate and pass the Regulations before they could come into force.^[7]

• [1] Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007, 17 April 2007
• [2] Equality Act 2006, Clause 81
• [3] Exceptions to regulations 4 and 5, Clause 6
• [4] Insurance, Clause 27
• [5] Blood donation, Clause 28
• [6] Bodies to which regulation 8 does not apply, Schedule 1, Part 1
• [7] Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007, House of Lords, 21 March 2007

Debate in Parliament | Source |